February 2007

February 28, 2007

I got to catch up with many at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which is ironic in that we're all, mostly, from New York. A few tidbits from my poolside chatter and after-party mingling.

Can you be a bad-ass wearing a pink snuggly? Tony Bourdain recounted, with the glee and anticipation of a small child on Christmas, trips to Baby Gap for everything pink and declared his plans to wear a snuggly with la petite on board. Will he maintain his sardonic smoking stance? Fear not. Let's go to the videotapes (at youtube.com). Scathing sarcasm in full effect.

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Construction on the Alain Ducasse space in the St. Regis hotel to begin – now. And a note to the staff – call time for training in June.

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Le Guide Michelin going west? Perhaps yes. Does that mean Los Angeles or Las Vegas? And perhaps sources from the source were laying decoys in Chicago. Upon hearing the news, my first reaction was to reach for my cell phone to make a call. Then Irealized that my cocktail dress did not have pockets for said phone. Later, poolside at the Raleigh, I decided not. After breaking the wave of Michelin news since February 2005, I have a touch of ennui . Perhaps another intrepid blogger will pick up the baton. C'est fini.

To wit, Andre Balazs threw a lovely soirée on Friday night for Eric Ripert in the penthouse at the Raleigh Hotel. In spite of all the bold-faced names (Eric and Sandra Ripert, Maguy Le Coze, Tony Bourdain, Tom Colicchico, Dana Cowin, Peter Elliot, Marc Erhler,Tony Esnault, Laurent Gras, Gael Greene, Gabrielle Hamilton, Michael Laiskonis, Alfred Portale, Lee Schrager, Tom Valenti et al.) it was quite low-key and sympathique. Warm starry sky on the terrace, cold champagne at the bar, and a dance floor. (Yes, they can cook and dance) Some of the chefs let down their toques and got a groove on to the dj, pumping pop classics like Depeche Mode and Prince, and Xperimento,the liveband thatplayed sultry island music. Perhaps dancing with the stars should do a culinary version? Think Iron Chef with sequins and a soundtrack.

Having a b-list bloggerplay 'The Price is Right' on your ensemble...priceless.

UPDATE 3.22.07: Turns out Ilan Hall's Bravo bonus check is still in the mail. Meaning he hasn't been paid yet, which may be why he's shopping on Canal Street instead of Madison Avenue. He certainly had me fooled from a distance.

February 22, 2007

It's worth noting that the 2007 Michelin Guide for France came out yesterday. It should be in stores on February 28th. As with all guide books, the news is about who won (Anne-Sophie Pic, new a new three star, notable because she's a woman) and who lost (Taillevent and Le Cinq demoted to two stars).

The official press release from Michelin and a pretty good round up of all the action on Bloomberg.

February 20, 2007

We know that Zak Pelaccio has teamed up with Jeffery Chodrow to open a restaurant in the Sanderson Hotel in London. Said restaurant is Suka. While the opening will not be for another few weeks (March 16th to be exact), the full press release is right here after the jump.

February 19, 2007

In my mail (actual paper) there's an invitation to a sneak preview of No Reservations - the movie. As I read on, I'm thinking...how did I miss this? Is it possible I didn't know Tony Bourdain's Travel Channel show's going to the big screen?

Aaron Eckhart's pictured on the invite wearing a chef jacket, so I guess they decided to go blond. Tony's always thought Gary Oldman would make a great movie version. Catherine Zeta-Jones, also dressed in chef whites, is next to Eckhart. Now I'm wondering...whois she playing? The only real female character in Bourdain kitchens is the Grill Bitch.

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Now before the Tony Bourdain fans (and stalkers) start planning to storm the velvet rope of the preview on Thursday night, you should know:

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No Reservations the movie has nothing to do with No Reservations the TV show.

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No Reservations the movie is the American version of the German film Bella Martha, released stateside as Mostly Martha. It's due out this July. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays "master chef Kate Armstrong" with Eckhart in the role of Nick Palmer,her sous-chef and romantic interest.

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Now it all makes sense. Sort of. I still can't figure out why they named the movie after Tony's show?

February 16, 2007

Did you have a drink of water today? Take a shower? Hopefully the answer to both is affirmative. But there are millions of children whose response, tragically, is no. While snackwire is usually a showcase for restaurant openings, today's edition features a press release for a worthy event: UNICEF's Tap Project on World Water Day in March. Read on. If you're a restaurant - sign up. If you're a diner - pony up that dollar for a good cause.

February 15, 2007

Today in the final installment of the stealth series, the media weighs in and answers the question - Is it possible to have a stealth restaurant opening in NYC? Answers from Bon Appetit, Eater, Gourmet, Nation’s Restaurant News, NY Times, and Zagat.